Multi-position wire display rack

ABSTRACT

A multi-position, foldable wire display rack comprising an upright wire support frame having a back and opposite sides and at least one package-supporting wire shelf having hooks on a back edge thereof pivotally engaged with the back of the support frame and a plurality of protrusions on opposite side edges thereof, said protrusions selectively engageable with cooperating structure on the support frame sides to support the shelf in a plurality of angularly adjusted positions on the support frame.

United States Patent Young, Jr. Oct. 28, 1975 [54] MULTI-POSITION WIRE DISPLAY RACK 3,252,434 5/1966 Young, Jr. 211/181 X 3,490,598 l/197O Federman 211/181 X [76] ggi: Young if" -gf 8668 3,680,712 8/1972 Jurasek 211/181 a anooga, enn.

[22] Filed: Aug. 26, 1974 Primary Examiner-James T. McCall [21] pp No 500 516 Attorney, Agent, or FirmShoemaker and Mattare [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. 108/6; 108/111; 211/178;

211/181 A multl-posltion, foldable wire display rack compris- 51 Int. c1. A47F 5/14 ing an upright We support frame having a back and 58 Field of Search 211/150, 181, 142, 149, Opposite sides and at least Package-Supporting 2] H132 248/211 214 242 215 wire shelf having hooks on a back edge thereof pivot- 1 ally engaged with the back of the support frame and a plurality of protrusions on opposite side edges thereof, [56] References Cited said protrusions selectively engageable with cooperating structure on the support frame sides to support the UNITED STATES PATENTS shelf in a plurality of angularly adjusted positions on 2,648,442 8/1953 Lowmasterm. 211/181 x the Support f 3,091,345 5/1963 Hoose et al.... 211/181 X 3,101,148 8/1963 Brown 211/181 X 5 Claims,'6 Drawing Figures Sheet 1 of 3 3,915,097

mam Oct. 28, 1975 US, Patent Oct. 28, 1975 shw 2 of3 3,915,097

5 JD w w 3 w a m r e M I ll I fi I I M m\ m 1 9 I m w WW V. u 2 m m m m u 2 m u 3 m M J N m Ill |l \rillli wm W U.S. Patent 0.2s,1975 Sheet30f3 3,915,097

MULTI-POSITION WIRE DISPLAY RACK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to support racks for supporting packages or items in a highly visible and readily assessible position for sale or display to the public. In particular, the present invention relates to such a display rack made of wire which is foldable to a substantially flat condition for ease in storage and shipment and which is easily erected to an upright position having a back and opposite sides extending generally perpendicular thereto and at least one and preferably a plurality of shelves having hooking loops along one edge thereof for engagement with horizontal rods or bars on the back of the shelf and protrusions on the sides thereof for engagement with cooperating protrusions on the sides of the frame whereby the shelves may be supported in a plurality of angularly inclined or adjusted positions.

The structure of the display rack according to the invention is exceptionally simple and economical and is supported in an erect operable position and the shelves may be adjusted to a plurality of positions without requiring the use of separate fasteners and the like.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a wire display rack which is simple and economical in construction and is easy to use and which includes a plurality of shelves having means whereby the shelves may be adjusted to a plurality of differently inclined positions or to a horizontal position without requiring the use of separate fasteners and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a display rack in accordance with the invention having three shelves thereon with the shelves each adjusted to a different operative position in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged view in section taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of one side of the frame and an adjacent portion of a shelf;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section taken along line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 in an enlarged fragmentary view in section taken along lines 6-6 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, a wire display rack is indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1 and comprises a wire support frame 11 having a back 12 and opposite sides 13 and 14. The back 12 comprises a plurality of substantially parallel, vertically spaced apart elongate wires or rods 15 with selected spaced apart wires or rods 15a having hooks 16 at their opposite ends and a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart elongate vertically disposed wires or rods 17 welded to the horizontal wires or rods 15 and 15a and extending substantially the length or height of the back 12. The sides 13 and 14 comprise a plurality of vertically extending spaced apart substantially parallel rods or wires 18 having a plurality of vertically spaced apart,

generally U-shaped side members 19 secured to one side thereof as by welding or the like and having a closed forward end 20 and an inwardly projecting loop or deformation 21 in each leg thereof in substantial vertical alignment and adjacent the closed end 20. A pair of relatively heavy elongate vertically disposed support legs or rods 22 and 23 are welded or otherwise suitably fixed to the U-shaped side support members 19 adjacent the rear and forward ends thereof, respectively, and the support legs or rids 22 and 23 have plastic or similar caps 24 and 25 on their opposite ends, respectively, for supporting the rackin an upright position.

As seen best in FIG. 1, the elements 15a in the back 12 of the rack are greater in length than the remaining elements 15 and the hooks 16 at the opposite ends thereof are pivotally engaged around the vertical element 18 at the rearward edge of the respective sides 13 and 14 whereby the sides are pivotally or foldably connected with the back so that the sides may be folded flatwise against the back for storage or shipment of the rack.

A plurality of shelves 26 are adjustably supported on the support frame and each shelf 26 includes a generally U-shaped peripheral frame portion 27 having an upturned forward edge 28 and more particularly the frame portion comprises a pair of opposite, generally parallel legs 29 having vertically upturned portions 30 at their forward edge and a horizontal transversely extending portion 31 joining the upper ends of the upturned portions 30. A plurality of elongate transversely extending wires or rods 32 are welded to the side legs 29 in spanning relationship to the frame portions 27, and on the upper side thereof, a second plurality of elongate, substantially parallel wires or rods 33 extend substantially perpendicularly to the rods or wires 32 and parallel to the side portions 2'9 of the frame portion 27, and the wires 33 have upturned, forward end portions 34 with hook like structures 35 at their upper ends received over the top of the horizontally extending closed end portion 31 of the frame portion 27, and the wires 33 extend rearwardly beneath and are welded to the transversely extending wires 32.

As seen best in FIGS. 1 and 3, a pair of wires 33 at each of the opposite side edges of each shelf 26 are joined at their rearward ends by a closed inturned depending loop or hook structure 36 which is hooked over one of the horizontal bars or wires 15 on the back 12 of the support frame. A horizontal, transversely extending wire or bar 37 is also welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upwardly extending portions 34 of the members 33 to prevent a package or article from passing between adjacent upright portions 34.

Further, each side leg 29 of each frame portion 27 of each shelf 26 has a pair of formations therein adjacent the forward edge thereof including a first downturned protrusion 38 and an immediately adjacent or contiguous second downturned protrusion 39. A first protrusion 38 comprises essentially downturned loop with generally equal legs 40 and 41, whereas the second protrusion 39 has a relatively long leg 42 and a short leg 43.

Thus, as seen in FIG. 2, when the shelf 26 is in a first angularly adjusted position, as at the top of FIG. 2, the protrusion 38 is securely and generally symmetrically received in the projection 21 of the side frame support member 19, and when the shelf is in a second angularly adjusted position as seen in the mid-portion of FIG. 2,

the protrusion 39 is generally symmetrically and securely received in the projection 21. As seen at the bottom of FIG. 2, when the shelf is in yet a third adjusted position, wherein it is substantially horizontally disposed, the protrusion 38 is also received in the projec tion 21 of the side frame members.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, a plurality of vertically aligned loops or projections on the side frame members are arranged to cooperate with a pair of projections on the shelves at opposite edges thereof, whereby the shelves may be quickly and easily and yet securely supported in a plurality of angularly adjusted positions without requiring the use of separate fasteners or the like, and the hook-shaped loops 36 at the rear edges of the shelves prevent tipping of the shelves and maintain them securely attached to the frame in all adjusted positions thereof. Additionally, and when desired, the shelves may be released from the projection 21 atopposite sides thereof and either pivoted downwardly into flatwise engagement with a back 12 of the frame or removed entirely from the frame and the side portions 13, 14 of the frame may be pivoted inwardly into flatwise engagement with the back 12 for storage and shipment of the display rack.

Additionally, with the present invention, no wire ends are exposed at the front of the display rack and accordingly there is no danger of injury to persons either inspecting articles or packages on the shelves or to persons'han dling the display rack, and the pluraltity of secured together wires extending transversely to one anotherpdefine a relatively small mesh to support the small packages. Further, the rolled or upturned front on the shelves retain packages thereon in the various adjusted positions thereof; and these upturned portions may be used for point of purchase advertising, if desired.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustr'ative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A multi-position wire display rack comprising an upright, wire support frame having a back and opposite sides, at least one package-supporting wire shelf having inturned hook means on a back edge thereof pivotally engaged with the back of the support frame, a plurality of spaced apart, depending shelf supporting protrusions on each of the opposite sides of the shelf, an inwardly extending projection on each of the support frame sides, said protrusions selectively engageable with said projections on the support frame sides to selectively support the shelf in either a horizontal position or in either of two angularly inclined adjusted positions on the support frame.

2. A multi-position wire display rack as in claim 1, wherein the back of the support frame comprises a plurality of generally parallel elongate horizontally extending wire members and some of said wire members are greater in length then the remaining wire members, the sides of said support frame comprise a plurality of generally parallel vertically extending wire members and the longer wire members in the back of the frame have hook like formations at their opposite ends pivotally engaged with the vertical wire members of the frame sides, whereby the frame sides are pivotally connected with the back and are foldable to a collapsed position for storage and shipment.

3. A multi-position wire display rack as in claim 1, wherein the back of the support frame includes a plurality of generally parallel elongate horizontally disposed wire members, and the sides of the frame include a plurality of elongate generally parallel vertically disposed wire members with the sides pivotally connected to the back of the frame and said shelf comprises a plurality of elongate, substantially parallel wire members turned upwardly at a front edge portion of the shelf and with a pair of said wire members at opposite side edges of the shelf being joined by a closed loop-shaped hook portion which is pivotally engaged with one of said hor- Y izontal wire members of the back of the frame for pivotally supporting the shelf to the frame back.

4. A multi-position wire display rack as in claim 3, wherein each shelf has a pair of protrusions on opposite sides thereof and a plurality of vertically aligned inwardly extending projections are on the support frame sides in position for receiving the protrusions on the sides of the shelf whereby one of the protrusions is received in the projection in two adjusted positions of the shelf, and the other of the protrusions is received in the projection in a third adjusted position of the shelf.

5. A multi-position wire display rack as in claim 1, wherein said protrusions include a first downturned protrusion and an immediately adjacent second downturned protrusion, said first protrusion comprising a downturned loop having spaced legs of substantially equal length, and the second protrusion having a relatively long leg and a relatively short leg, said first protrusion engageable in a first projection when said shelf is supported either horizontally or in a first inclined position, and said second protrusion engageable in a second, lower projection when said shelf is supported in a second inclined position at a greater angle of inclination than said first inclined position. 

1. A multi-position wire display rack comprising an upright, wire support frame having a back and opposite sides, at least one package-supporting wire shelf having inturned hook means on a back edge thereof pivotally engaged with the back of the support frame, a plurality of spaced apart, depending shelf supporting protrusions on each of the opposite sides of the shelf, an inwardly extending projection on each of the support frame sides, said protrusions selectively engageable with said projections on the support frame sides to selectively support the shelf in either a horizontal position or in either of two angularly inclined adjusted positions on the support frame.
 2. A multi-position wire display rack as in claim 1, wherein the back of the support frame comprises a plurality of generally parallel elongate horizontally extending wire members and some of said wire members are greater in length then the remaining wire members, the sides of said support frame comprise a plurality of generally parallel vertically extending wire members and the longer wire members in the back of the frame have hook like formations at their opposite ends pivotally engaged with the vertical wire members of the frame sides, whereby the frame sides are pivotally connected with the back and are foldable to a collapsed position for storage and shipment.
 3. A multi-position wire display rack as in claim 1, wherein the back of the support frame includes a plurality of generally parallel elongate horizontally disposed wire members, and the sides of the frame include a plurality of elongate generally parallel vertically disposed wire members with the sides pivotally connected to the back of the frame and said shelf comprises a plurality of elongate, substantially parallel wire members turned upwardly at a front edge portion of the shelf and with a paiR of said wire members at opposite side edges of the shelf being joined by a closed loop-shaped hook portion which is pivotally engaged with one of said horizontal wire members of the back of the frame for pivotally supporting the shelf to the frame back.
 4. A multi-position wire display rack as in claim 3, wherein each shelf has a pair of protrusions on opposite sides thereof and a plurality of vertically aligned inwardly extending projections are on the support frame sides in position for receiving the protrusions on the sides of the shelf whereby one of the protrusions is received in the projection in two adjusted positions of the shelf, and the other of the protrusions is received in the projection in a third adjusted position of the shelf.
 5. A multi-position wire display rack as in claim 1, wherein said protrusions include a first downturned protrusion and an immediately adjacent second downturned protrusion, said first protrusion comprising a downturned loop having spaced legs of substantially equal length, and the second protrusion having a relatively long leg and a relatively short leg, said first protrusion engageable in a first projection when said shelf is supported either horizontally or in a first inclined position, and said second protrusion engageable in a second, lower projection when said shelf is supported in a second inclined position at a greater angle of inclination than said first inclined position. 